Are you REALLY a "People Person"? Really?

Ever feel like you send out your résumé all over the place and still no bites? In some cases, it could be a matter of volume. You are simply a number in a stack of many numbers. Any one of you will do, so they blindfold themselves and choose one. This means you have about 1:200 odds of getting selected*.But, there could be other reasons why your résumé or CV doesn't get selected.

Sometimes, your particular style of prose makes your cover letter scream, "douche". An example would be:

I am looking to bring my interpersonal communication skills and customer relations abilities to your financial department.

There must be a book that insists you push your "people skills" front and center. Not only that, but the book would probably also be insisting you use the largest words you can conjure up to describe the most simple attribute. So you can talk to people respectfully? Tell me more about your marvels!

Ironically, there is a negative correlation between the amount of word space people dedicate to their people skills and how much they actually have. It's like the more a job candidate works to tell you they get along with people, the harder it is for that person to get along with someone.

Here's an actual nugget of wisdom, you want to prove you are a "people person"? Put up or shut up. Link actual people experience on your résumé into your cover letter; otherwise you be discounted as someone who searches for filler.

Also, if you aren't a people person, don't lie about it. Instead, choose to admit it gracefully like so:

I work very well independently, maintaining productivity with minimal supervision. 

It screams, "leave me alone if you want to live" in a good way. We can't ALL be people lovers.

Consider this, do you want to deal with people? Yes? Then talk about how you've done it in the past. No? Then don't lie about it because you'll get stuck dealing with people.